The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, March 10, 2020

Psalm 128; Isaiah 65:17-25; Romans 4:6-13

The Daily Lectionary

TUESDAY, March 10, 2020

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 128

God promises life

1  Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
     who walk in obedience to him.
2  You will eat the fruit of your labor;
    blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3  Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
     within your house;
   your children will be like olive shoots
     around your table.
4  Yes, this will be the blessing
     for the man who fears the Lord.

5  May the Lord bless you from Zion;
     may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
     all the days of your life.
6  May you live to see your children’s children—
     peace be on Israel.

Isaiah 65:17-25

God promises a new creation

17 “See, I will create
     new heavens and a new earth.
   The former things will not be remembered,
     nor will they come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
     in what I will create,
   for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
     and its people a joy.
19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem
     and take delight in my people;
   the sound of weeping and of crying
     will be heard in it no more.

20 “Never again will there be in it
     an infant who lives but a few days,
     or an old man who does not live out his years;
   the one who dies at a hundred
     will be thought a mere child;
   the one who fails to reach a hundred
     will be considered accursed.
21 They will build houses and dwell in them;
     they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them,
     or plant and others eat.
   For as the days of a tree,
     so will be the days of my people;
   my chosen ones will long enjoy
     the work of their hands.
23 They will not labor in vain,
     nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;
   for they will be a people blessed by the Lord,
     they and their descendants with them.
24 Before they call I will answer;
     while they are still speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together,
     and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
     and dust will be the serpent’s food.
   They will neither harm nor destroy
     on all my holy mountain,”
   says the Lord.

Romans 4:6-13

Abraham saved through faith

4:6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7  “Blessed are those
     whose transgressions are forgiven,
     whose sins are covered.
8  Blessed is the one
     whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Daily Lectionary is a three-year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2020, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2019 was Year C. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, March 10, 2020
Psalm 128; Isaiah 65:17-25; Romans 4:6-13

The Daily Prayer for TUESDAY, March 10, 2020

The Daily Prayer

TUESDAY, March 10, 2020

Teresa of Avila, a sixteenth-century Spanish mystic, said, “Let nothing disturb you, nothing dismay you. All things are passing, God never changes. Patient endurance attains all things. God alone suffices.”

Lord, before the heat of the noonday comes, we are already feeling as though our lives are not full enough. Instill in us this morning the assurance that you are enough for us, God. Your love, your call, your work, is enough. Amen.

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, March 10, 2020

1 Peter 3:15

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Read all of 1 Peter 3

Listen to 1 Peter 3

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Lenten Prayer for TUESDAY, March 10, 2020 - Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

40 Days of Lenten Prayers

Day 12 - Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

God in heaven and in my life,

guide me and protect me.

I so often believe I can save myself

and I always end in failure.

Lead me with your love away from harm

and guide me on the right path.

May your Spirit inspire the Church

and make us an instrument of your love

and guidance.

Thank you for your care for me.

Amen.

Un dia a la Vez - Martes 10 de marzo de 2020

El Manual de Instrucciones

La exposición de tus palabras nos da luz, y da entendimiento al sencillo.

— Salmo 119:130 (NVI)

Este es el libro inspirado por Dios que nos ayuda a conocer cómo nuestro Dios creó este mundo. Además, nos muestra todo lo que Él hizo por nosotros al enviar a su único Hijo Jesucristo para que muriera por ti y por mí a fin de perdonar nuestros pecados.

A través de este maravilloso libro, Dios nos instruye para ser sabios, vivir una vida que le agrade y, de ese modo, hacer su voluntad. Cuando leemos este Manual, podemos conocer que Él es el mismo ayer, hoy y siempre.

Este es el libro más editado y más perseguido. Han tratado de acabarlo, lo han vituperado, y aun así, se mantiene vigente e incólume. A pesar de su antigüedad, sus enseñanzas no pierden vigencia. Siempre aconseja el bien y no el mal. En la literatura no hay otro libro más excelente que este. En todas las casas, escuelas, hospitales, hoteles y cárceles se encuentra siempre… «La Biblia».

No tienes que ser un erudito para entenderla, porque es el mismo Dios el que te la revela y te guía.

Mi motivación para ti hoy es que también la tengas como parte de la formación de tus hijos.

Enséñales a leerla, y si son niños pequeños, acostúmbralos a leérsela antes de ir a dormir.

Con el tiempo entenderás el tesoro que estás sembrando en sus corazones y en sus vidas.

La Biblia está al alcance de todos, desde Génesis hasta el Apocalipsis.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Este es el libro inspirado por Dios que nos ayuda a conocer cómo nuestro Dios creó este mundo.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Tuesday, March 10, 2020

THE WAY OF THE CROSS

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…

— Philippians 3:10 (NIV)

Members of the persecuted church around the world have long understood the true significance of the cross of Christ. Pastor Allen Yuan in China, who spent almost twenty-two years in prison for his faith away from his large family, often talks about his sufferings over those years. But he invariably concludes with the statement, “They are nothing compared with the Cross!”

The best known and loved pastor in China was Watchman Nee who was martyred in the early 1970s. One of his elderly co-workers said recently, “If we call ourselves Christians—people following Christ—we should know what road we are taking. Christ went the way of the Cross. We should be prepared to do likewise.”

A Canadian Christian aid worker was overwhelmed at the enormous need among the believers of southern Sudan. He recalls some children in a village wearing nothing but hand-carved bone crosses fashioned in necklaces around their necks. He pointed to the cross on one emaciated child and questioned her with hand motions. She smiled broadly, took off the necklace and handed it to him.

His thoughtful analysis is this: “That little act symbolizes the state of the suffering church in Sudan. With absolutely nothing in the way of material possessions, they still have the cross of Jesus Christ. They are prepared to share its hope—even though it means death.”

Indian missionary and martyr, Sadhu Sundar Singh, wrote in his diary, “It is easy to die for Christ. It is hard to live for him. Dying takes only an hour or two but to live for Christ means to die daily [to self].”

A thirty-two-year-old pastor works in upper Egypt, an area of intense persecution for Christians. He runs a daycare center, a medical clinic, a literacy training program as well as caring for the families of those in prison. He has been beaten twice by Muslim extremists and threatened daily with death. He knows they are trying to kill him...but he continues to daily bear his cross.

A leading pastor in Egypt shared about a parishioner who tearfully came for counselling. Young people she had trained at her work were recently promoted to be her supervisors. She was passed over solely because she was a Christian. The pastor concluded, “That’s the cross we must bear here in Egypt!”

The essence of these examples is that instead of exercising and asserting my will, I learn to co-operate with God’s wishes and comply with His will.

RESPONSE: Today I will walk the way of the cross with Jesus and comply with His will.

PRAYER: Pray for believers under severe persecution who today will take up their cross to follow Jesus.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

LHM Daily Devotions March 10, 2020 - BREAD FROM HEAVEN

"BREAD FROM HEAVEN"

March 10, 2020

Now when it was evening, the disciples came to Him (Jesus) and said, "This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."

— Matthew 14:15-16 (ESV)

The people of Israel were fond of remembering the days when Moses led them through the wilderness and God provided them with everything they needed, including food. The people could not farm while they were traveling toward the promised land; so God sent them manna, a kind of bread-like substance they could gather from the desert floor each day. They called this "bread from heaven"—God's miracle to provide for them.

Many years later, Jesus and the disciples were in a similar situation, with 5,000 hungry people out in a deserted place and nothing for them to eat. Being practical, the disciples suggested sending them away to find food for themselves somewhere else. Then Jesus said the really astounding thing: "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."

Sometimes it feels like God has given us Christians the same ridiculous order. You may have someone in your life that God seems to have dropped into your lap—a friend, neighbor, or family member you are attempting to care for. But their needs are so great, and your resources are so small! You are overwhelmed. I know the feeling well. We've spent 30 years trying to care for a refugee community with very few resources indeed.

So what can we do? We can be as honest as the disciples and admit, "Lord, I can't do it. I don't have the resources. You have to tell us what to do." And then we can pray and keep an eye out to see how God provides. He is able to care for us and the people we love, even today. He can give us wisdom, and He can show us the way to go.

It is right for us to turn to Jesus in every need, because as He says, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh" (John 6:51). The same Lord who gave His life for us on the cross will care for us in every need of body and spirit.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, You know the needs we are facing. Please help us. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. How has God provided for your needs in the past?
2. What needs are you asking God for help with right now?
3. Is there someone you are caring for right now who has needs you can't meet? Take a moment to pray for them.

Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
How has God provided for your needs in the past?

Devocional CPTLN del 10 de marzo de 2020 - Pan del cielo

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Pan del cielo

10 de Marzo de 2020

Sus discípulos se acercaron a él y le dijeron: "Ya es muy tarde, y en este lugar no hay nada. Despide a toda esta gente, para que vayan a las aldeas y compren de comer." Jesús les dijo: "No tienen por qué irse. Denles ustedes de comer."

— Mateo 14:15-16 (RVC)

Al pueblo de Israel le gustaba recordar los días en que Moisés los guió por el desierto y Dios les proporcionó todo lo que necesitaban, incluida la comida. Como no podían cultivar mientras viajaban hacia la Tierra Prometida, Dios les enviaba maná, una sustancia que podían recoger del suelo cada día. Llamaron a esto "pan del cielo", el milagro de Dios para proveerles.

Muchos años después, Jesús y los discípulos se encontraban en una situación similar, con cinco mil personas hambrientas en un lugar desierto y sin nada para comer. Los discípulos sugirieron que Jesús las enviara a buscarse comida en otro lugar. Entonces Jesús dijo algo realmente asombroso: "No tienen por qué irse. Denles ustedes de comer".

A veces parece que Dios nos ha dado a los cristianos la misma ridícula orden. Quizás haya alguien en tu vida a quien Dios parece haber dejado caer en tu regazo: un amigo, vecino o miembro de la familia que estás tratando de cuidar. ¡Pero sus necesidades son muy grandes y tus recursos muy pocos, y estás abrumado! Conozco bien la sensación: hemos pasado treinta años tratando de cuidar a una comunidad de refugiados con muy pocos recursos.

Entonces, ¿qué podemos hacer? Podemos ser tan honestos como los discípulos y admitir: Señor, no podemos hacerlo. No tenemos los recursos. Tienes que decirnos qué hacer. Y luego podemos orar y estar atentos para ver cómo Dios nos provee. Él puede cuidarnos a nosotros y a las personas que amamos. Puede darnos sabiduría y mostrarnos el camino a seguir.

Recurramos a Jesús en cada necesidad, porque él es "el pan vivo que descendió del cielo. Si alguien come de este pan, vivirá para siempre" (Juan 6:51). El mismo Señor que dio su vida por nosotros en la cruz, nos cuidará en toda necesidad de cuerpo y espíritu.

ORACIÓN: Señor Jesús, tú sabes las necesidades que enfrentamos. Ayúdanos. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

1. ¿Cómo ha provisto Dios para tus necesidades en el pasado?
2. ¿Por cuáles necesidades le estás pidiendo ayuda a Dios ahora?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Cómo ha provisto Dios para tus necesidades en el pasado?

Nuestro Pan Diario - Partido para compartirlo

Partido para compartirlo

La escritura de hoy: Lucas 9:11-17
La Biblia en un año: Deuteronomio 11–13; Marcos 12:1-27

… Dadles vosotros de comer… — Lucas 9:13

Nos reuníamos todos los jueves, después de que él perdiera a su esposa en un accidente automovilístico. A veces, venía con preguntas que no tenían respuesta; y otras, con recuerdos que quería revivir. Con el tiempo, aceptó que aunque el accidente fue resultado de este mundo roto, Dios tenía un propósito en ello. Años más tarde, dio una clase en nuestra iglesia sobre el dolor y cómo lamentarnos bien. Poco después, se convirtió en guía experto para personas que experimentaban pérdidas. A veces, cuando pensamos que no tenemos nada para ofrecer, Dios toma lo que suponemos «insuficiente» y lo convierte en «más que suficiente».

Jesús les dijo a los discípulos que dieran de comer a la gente. Ellos alegaron que no tenían nada, pero el Señor multiplicó lo poco que había, y luego les repartió el pan, como diciendo: «¡Les dije que les dieran algo para comer!» (Lucas 9:13-16). Cristo hará el milagro, pero suele decidir hacernos parte.

Jesús nos invita: «Coloca en mis manos lo que eres y lo que tienes. Tu vida destruida, tu historia, tu fragilidad y tus fracasos, tu dolor y tu sufrimiento. Ponlos en mis manos. Te sorprenderá lo que puedo hacer con eso». Él sabe que puede producir abundancia de nuestro vacío; revelar su poder a partir de nuestra debilidad.

De:  Administrador del sitio

Reflexiona y ora

Señor, toma mis dolores y pérdidas, y conviértelas en bendición.

¿Qué te ha partido por dentro? ¿Cómo podrías pedirle a Cristo que use tu experiencia para alentar a otros?

© 2020 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Nos reuníamos todos los jueves, después de que él perdiera a su esposa en un accidente automovilístico.